Wine Recommendation

Jus Soli Winery

2005 Zinfandel
(Dry Creek Valley)

Tom and KC Garrett, Mike Carlson and Heather Staples, Peter Simon and Felicia Strankman, Mike and Cory O'Donnell, and Jesse Wurtzel are partners in this artisanal winery. Winemaker Tom Garrett, who also acts as General Manager and winemaker along with Heidi Barrett at Napa Valley’s latest cult winery, Revana, comes from a grape growing family. Their Detert Vineyard Cabernet Franc is one of the valley’s finest.

Looking to old vine Zin haven Dry Creek Valley as a source of fruit for this sexy wine, it is, like the other wines in this label, richly fruited but very feminine and silky. Bright, deeply saturated purple-ruby with slow-moving legs showing its 15.5% alcohol content, this dazzling Zin has aromas of freshly ground green peppercorn, black pepper, cherry and lilies. Boisterous, jazzy boysenberry and black currant fruit is complemented by notes of mocha and cream. The wine is full, round, and smooth, and just a hint oaky. The finish is long and fruity. This is the kind of Zinfandel that even diehard Pinot Noir lovers could grow to love. It would be delicious with cheese, mushroom or chicken liver fritters, fusilli pasta with spicy Italian sausage and leeks, or Coq au Zin.

Other reviewed wines from Jus Soli Winery

The Wine

The Reviewer

Catherine Fallis

Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth.

The Wine

The Reviewer

Catherine Fallis

Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth.